All unequals are equals in the eyes of law. These have been the buzzwords of Calcutta Traffic Police(KTP). They are not even sparing MPs and MLAs. Government and non-government vehicles are also equal for them. Everybody has to pay fines if he disobeys the traffic rules.
The other day, the driver of an MLA of CPI(M) was fined Rs.300/- for speeding, with the MLA inside the car!
The case is like this. The car of the powerful CPI(M) MLA Ms.Tamalika Ponda Seth, who is also Chiarperson of Haldia municipality, was speeding along Red Road when Speed Radar of KTP measured the speed of the moving car at 72 Kmph against allowable speed up to 50Kmph.
The car was promptly stopped and the license of the driver impounded. It is only after the MLA paid the fine, that the license was returned. She does not have any complain, but said innocently, “ I was not aware of any speed restriction”. She was going to the Assembly House, which was within walking distance, from where her car was interrupted.
In a similar case about a month ago, another CPI(M) heavy weight MP, Tarit Baran Topdar’s car was stopped by the cops near Shyambazar five point crossing, for overtaking the lane from wrong side, crossing the white line barrier. The driver was fined with the MP keeping his cool inside the car. This was news next day and the MP reacted by saying, “ A mountain is being made of a mole.”